Phar Lap wins the Agua Caliente Handicap- 1932

THIS VIDEO IS PROVIDED FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY: The great Phar Lap in his one and only international race winning the Agua Caliente Handicap ("Hundred Grander") in 1932. As history would have it he died tragically days after the race. Many track observers said that they had never seen a horse cover the 2 furlongs of the back straight that Phar Lap does in this race.

[@rcaddict72]

woah..cracked hoof, just travelled across the world by boat..on dirt..gave the whole field a massive advantage..ran wide... was the richest race in the world at the time... and just played with them..on top of that, was carrying 58.5kg... WTF... how anyone can say he wasnt the greatest ever, is beyond me..

[@svendbosanvovski4241]

Yes, and had never raced on dirt before. Still had his Winter coat and his training was interrupted by the poor weather and his cracked hoof you mentioned. There were threats made before the race, so Elliott dropped him to last before urging him to the lead by racing four or five horses wide coming to the turn. His sectionals at that point - which you can get from the Daily Racing Form - were astonishing. He came close to beating the North American record for 10f, even though he cantered the last 3f. And remember, that his best years were behind him. If Phar Lap had raced his whole career at set weights as the best do today, he would never have been beaten. He won from 6f to 2.3 miles. His win in the AJC Plate was every bit as impressive as Secs win in the Belmont. There has never been another like him and, interestingly, he Sec and Man o'War were all nicknamed Big Red.

[@marknorris1381]

@@svendbosanvovski4241 nailed it. You could also throw in his winning sequence over 15 days in October/November 1930 when he won 5 group races in that period including the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup with 65.6 kg. If you suggested such a campaign to a trainer these days they would have you committed. Even in the USA when lists of the greatest horses are being put together he usually makes it into the top ten.

[@mattdavis7274]

Thay havnt watched his movie obviously.

[@matthuitt1004]

@@svendbosanvovski4241 And another interesting fact is that Secreteriat died on the fourth of October, the same day in October that Phar Lap was foaled !!!

[@karenburrell2283]

I love Phar Lap; I got goose bumps watching that clip. After reading the book and watching the video it saddens me how he was treated. His strapper was the only one who loved that horse unconditionally. I realise this post will probably attract cyber bullies and some bickering, but I'm just focusing on a great horse!

[@marykelly8127]

Your right Karen, Phar Lap was GREAT ! People just don't know what he went thought. And if I'm not mistaken did he still win after they put 142 pounds on him to slow him down , But it didn't work .. He still WON.

[@tahliac4837]

@@marykelly8127 omg her name is karen I'm sorry 😔

[@tahliac4837]

*🥺

[@karenburrell2283]

@@tahliac4837 Well, it's been a long time since I've been on here and was deleting messages rather than look at them but I was intrigued and visted here again. I'm not sure what you mean by your comment. Don't know it if it's negative or positive...Hmmm

[@tonijones5991]

Indeed what a wonderful horse. Up to this day , i cry everytime i watch the movie..

[@academicmaniac4456]

Lol Phar Lap travelled on a boat for yonks, raced in COMPLETELY unfamiliar conditions and turf plus an injury, yet still smashed these horses with ease.

[@rubiconnz1754]

Set out from AUS and had stop over in NZ

[@anneshaw9681]

Split hoof and months on a boat then wins a race like this .Amazing

[@bgardiner3354]

It's one of the great travesties of racing that Equipoise wasn't there. Twenty Grand and Mate were probably the other two greats of the day. But the way Phar Lap dispatched these the way he did leaves no doubt in my mind that he'd have given them a beating, despite not being at his best.

[@711ATOM]

Part 2-Fortunately there were many very eyewitnesses to race and it is clear that Phar Lap's performance was outstanding. The great Johnny Longden, ridding a horse named Bahamas (99lbs.), recalled "I was on a fast horse and I was in front, and I looked back at the three-quarter pole and Phar Lap was about the seven-eighths pole. When I hit the half-mile pole, he went by me like a freight train passin' a tramp. He was in the middle of the racetrack, and he just gallop around."(conti.)

[@ColossalBeltloop]

"Come on Phar Lap...Phar Lap you beauty." "A little temperamental, but...what star isn't?" Love the old days. :D

[@nedpoines8104]

Phar Lap destroyed them in the back straight and then toyed with them in the home straight. The complete ease of his win made the Americans really sit up and take notice. He will never be forgotten.

[@bgardiner3354]

From his one and only start in the US he was ranked #22 in the all-time American racehorse list by Bloodstock Magazine. Interestingly the horse ranked at 21 is Equipoise, who was recognised as the best horse in the states the year that Phar Lap won in Mexico.

[@graemealexander8804]

@@bgardiner3354 True, but the same article said they could only rate Phar Lap on his achievements until his untimely passing at 5 1/2yo. They stated he'd easily be in the top 4 or 5 had he lived on and continued on. He had achieved success that no horse had matched worldwide.

[@bgardiner3354]

I think that the importance of his win in Mexico after all of the issues that he faced, proved that US and Australian racing at the time was comparable. While the three best US horses of the day were not in the race it was still a genuine G1 field and Phar Lap beat them like a bunch of picnickers... 4 or 5?? he would have been top 3 IMO...

[@nedpoines8104]

@Karen Patterson The evidence of the video can hardly be contradicted. However, since I'm a sporting person, I'll let you logically and objectively explain your strange perspective of this particular race.

[@bgardiner3354]

@SeaMe you'll get no argument from me. If we had footage of his win in the AJC Plate over 18F as a 3yo it would be an easy discussion. That was his "Belmont". Imagine the trail of destruction he'd have left through North American racing has he not died when he did and Woodcock had been able to fully acclimatize him and get him race fit? His 4 race wins in the 8 days of the 1930 Melbourne spring carnival.for mine is without doubt the single most incredible achievement by a thoroughbred in any region in history.

[@chrisbrown6598]

he always carried ridiculous amounts more than other horses too

[@mikewhitney8615]

Phar Lap is much loved in America by knowledgeable racing fans. Many of us have seen the movie on TV. Wish the DVD would play in American region.

[@mikewhitney8615]

@RaggsNation Wouldn't be surprised.

[@bgardiner3354]

@RaggsNation they probably shouldn't. It's pretty clear that his death was a result of some of the treatments he got over the course of his life. He may have died from the same illness had he stayed in Australia

[@bgardiner2000]

What Phar Lap achieved in his career was truly remarkable. The true defining feature of his career was his win in the US. Travelling all that way in his winter coat, interrupted preparation, carrying an injury, half fit, on dirt for the first time against a quality field (although, arguably, the 3 best horses in the US at that time were not entered) & he blew them away 4-5 wide the whole way in track record time with top weight. this win franked his Australian form. That is, you could ....

[@jasonlennon1940]

My grandmother saw phar lap win the cup in 1930 and said he was the greatest and her brothers always said they should never have taken him to the usa. But what a win by phar lap over there proving he could beat any horse anywhere especially after such a long journey.

[@karenburrell2283]

Yea, I think taking him to the USA was their biggest mistake because I think it cost him his life.

[@David.L291]

@@karenburrell2283 How so? Why? If anything though that's a long journey to travel by boat

[@athglade2170]

@@David.L291 He quite clearly didn't die during transport to the USA. He was killed by jealous Americans or mafia. It's very sad.

[@patriziasandri9259]

​@@athglade2170pare che sia stato avvelenato

[@hd2dt]

AMAZING VIDEO!! Have never seen it before. Thanks And if anyones interested Phar Lap died from arsnic, a common additive to horses meals in the 1920s & 1930s. And another trivia fact the saddle used on Phar Lap here is kangaroo skin, saddle was later aquired by "Iceman" (seabiscuts fill in jockey) so saddle may have been used on 2 of the greatest race horses.

[@louismarsicovetere881]

@shantaine2009 You are so right. Not many people know how hard it is to win a race running two wide. But what Pharlap did running three wide almost the entire race is amazing. Any horseman worth they're keep will tell you the same thing

[@vickymillspaugh7636]

My dad, LeFoy Cunningham, rode in the race in Mexico with Phar Lap. This is the only video I have found of that race. THANK YOU!!

[@bgardiner2000]

That truly is a brush with greatness Vicky.

[@danielford5329]

That is so cool

[@bgardiner2000]

@DarcyLovesPokey I actually think that one of the primary reasons that Phar Lap is so well-remembered today was the circumstances surrounding his untimely death. You could never compare what Phar Lap did with Black Caviar's record. Phar Lap did what horses don't do any more. He won 4 stakes races in 8 days from 6F to 2 miles!! But make no mistake, Black Caviar is our generation's Phar Lap. Without a good understanding of racing it is difficult to fully comprehend just how good she is.

[@RaymondJones-kh6pp]

Pharlap was the best racehorse in history he would beat seabiscuit and secretarit at any distance and just look at his record he could win six furlong race and then a 2 mile race in the same week with huge weights he was the best horse in the world and even today no horse would beat him

[@Tuddyboy11]

Phar Lap did break the track record in this race; pretty good achievement since he also raced wide the entire way.

[@acommenter5919]

What's most amazing to me is that Phar Lap managed this win while dragging around that huge arrow above him the whole way!Was that some sort of special handicap we was compelled to endure?

[@bgardiner3354]

It was only light

[@janetgriffiths3960]

The arrow is just there to indicate which horse is Phar Lap.

[@acommenter5919]

Really??? I'm shocked, I tell you - absolutely shocked. Thanks so much for letting me know.

[@bgardiner2000]

Thanks Captain Obvious... ;)

[@janetgriffiths3960]

Well, they should have known that, without making a stupid comment. Use the brains God gave you, for Pete's sake!!!

[@bgardiner2000]

3. both indicated by their appearance that they had had enough. The crowd recognised one of the most remarkable exhibitions of galloping ever seen on any racecourse by loudly cheering Phar Lap and his rider when they returned to scale." This was Phar Lap's Secretariat moment. Had we footage of this performance there would be few to doubt his place in the racing Pantheon.

[@flipo25rid]

Phar Lap and Secretariat. They are both Chesnuts color and had massive hearts.When Phar lap died they notice his heart is bigger than average so did the great American horse.

[@GlenWFord-ps8ts]

flipo25rid As did Eclipse

[@academicmaniac4456]

But Secretariat's was still almost 4 kg even more than Phar Lap. Not to say he's better but that's a ridiculous large heart lol.

[@didyabringabongalong.1435]

Draught horse heart... To keep the punters in the museums

[@jamestulk5111]

Both horses llinage can be traced back to the mare 'Pocahontas'. As can Man o War, War Admiral, Seabiscuit, Sham and possibly even Zenyatta.

[@jimmatty]

There's some debate about the authenticity of that heart... anecdotal evidence that his real heart was dissected during autopsy, whatever the case, the heart of a champion has no need to be in a museum.

[@bgardiner2000]

@44redman1 Over 5-6F she'd be pretty hard to beat. But remember this. Phar Lap travelled by sea for 3 months to the US, to their summer in his winter coat, with no lead up races, half fit & with an injury ran a 2:02.2 at his first ever run on a dirt track ,4/5 wide & won on the bridle. That is a fast time even today. Had he been born now with the benefit of modern feeding, training techniques, vet science etc. he might very well have still been among the top bracket of horses anywhere.

[@bgardiner2000]

My grandmother was a huge racing fan. She was given a video with the version that you see here years ago. I had it converted to a mpeg. Yes great footage of a great horse. He only raced once in the northern hemishpere and still rates in their 20 greatest thoroughbreds of all time.

[@brettmillman9137]

We have blessed with some amazing horses in Australia, Winx & Black Caviar in particular. Better Loosen Up, Super Impose, Vo Rogue, Might & Power, Let's Elope, Lohnro & the wonderful Makybe Diva to name some others, but Phar Lap will always be the standout. What an iron horse, could come from anywhere, win from 1200-3200m & do it on his ear. Wow...what it must have been like to see this LEGEND in the flesh. The greatest of all time as far as the southern hemisphere goes.

[@ShadowMan66]

Very hard to compare over different time but seeing Winx has never raced outside of Australia and has been often pitted against 8 horse fields I would still always rate Phar Lap as more deserving of the term Champion. Winx is World Famous in Australia and a great, great horse but Phar Lap raced the best of them in big fields and with massive weights and still won.

[@Dudtrish]

When I was a kid, the only exhibit that I liked in the Museum in Melbourne, was Phar Lap's preserved body in its big glass case. (Gosh I detested the ridiculous dinosaurs!!!)

[@genericusername4206]

Dudtrish They also preserved Phar Lap's heart in the museum of Canberra I think.

[@Dudtrish]

Indeedy, I heard the same when I was a kid! (The claim was that Pharlap had the biggest horse heart ever measured... was a Guinness Record, I think.)

[@Andrew-wv6fy]

@@Dudtrish secretariats was 10 pounds bigger. Both champions.

[@Dudtrish]

Hi @@Andrew-wv6fy! Ahh, I didn't know that, but you are right, both were incredible horses!

[@Dudtrish]

@@Andrew-wv6fy Ned, I just watched a clip of Secretariat... gosh he was a beautiful horse!

[@Catlife247]

This movie really inspired me as a child. Thank you Phar Lap

[@davidstone7556]

The movie was good apart from emphasising the weight in the 1931 Melbourne Cup. The weight was significant but wasn't the reason he lost. What beat him was he'd been over-raced and over- trained and simply needed a spell or just freshened up. Tommy Woodcock would've done exactly that and won the Cup.

[@psw4763]

Unbelievable and exciting seeing him come from the back and outside position and win so magnificently. Very emotional

[@bgardiner2000]

Without trying to paraphrase one of the most knowledgable racing boffins I've ever heard Svendbosanovski, his 2nd hand description of Phar Lap's win in the 1930 AJC Plate over 18F at WFA is worth recalling. Phar Lap raced away to a 30+L lead after the mile, breaking the track record for every distance past 12F, slowed down to a canter for the last 2F to beat Nightmarch (who was G1 material anywhere in the world on his day) by 10L. That performance, had we the film footage similar to that of ...

[@rcaddict72]

lost 8 of his first 9 races and finished with 37 wins from 51 starts. going overseas to compete is very tough to do in any sport- and be competitive- moreso for animals. Phar Lap was one of a kind no doubt. a freak of nature.

[@wolfpoiison]

Still very sad to this day. A hero gone too soon. Such a beautiful horse.

[@nedpoines8104]

Several experienced American racing pundits were asked their opinion about which horse was the greatest of all time? This was Marshall Cassidy's response. He was Vice-president and Director of Racing of the New York Racing Association and was the starter of the Agua Caliente the year that the great gelding ran in it. "The Australian horse, Phar Lap. In his only North American race I saw Phar Lap do what I have never seen any other horse do. He stood rigid at the starting gate until the field was 15 lengths ahead of him. After making up 12 lengths, he circled 60 feet outside and ran away with the race."

[@d.v.3314]

Obviously the video is low quality because of the time but you can see how casually he's running. Like he's barely expending effort. Goddamn.

[@wizardofwhack]

I'm one of the toughest Men You will ever encounter...Still The Legend called Phar Lap had Me bawling like a baby. God Almighty!!!!! WHAT AN AWESOME CREATURE he was.I'd give almost anyhting to have a Phar Lap in My life..Phar Lap You Beauty..You are tearing up the Greens of Heaven and putting up a show for everyone up there..aren't you Bobby? OH HOW I ADORE YOU...Rest in Peace RED TERROR.....Your'e THE BEST THAT EVER WAS AND EVER WILL BE.

[@colliric]

@bgardiner2000 In fact, as Wikipedia attests, that was how Phar Lap pretty much won every race. The horse could ram it home in the final stretch from quite wide(where it was a little free), and the trainers figured it out pretty early in his career. That was his biggest strength. That's the reason why other horses were often instructed to try and box Phar Lap into the inner rail.

[@Figjamxlaststar]

I think what people forget when they talk about “The greatest Horses” is this. Phar Lap never got to have a full career, he died in his prime. However in saying that, to my knowledge no horse in Australian History has run the Melbourne Cup with the weight of 10 stone 10, whilst he didn’t win he still ran! He is also one of the the few horses that did win races with such a huge amount of weight on his back. If you compare him to WINX he ran with on average more than 10kg more than her! I truly believe that if this amazing horse had of been allowed to have run his natural course i dont think that we would have ever seen his equal… but these are just my thoughts about such an amazing horse!

[@bridmairead]

Oh, our nation, already suffering so much from the great depression, lost their hero. :(

[@bgardiner2000]

From a friend of mine. "I was about 12 when an old bloke with a poetic instinct relived Phar Lap's win in the AJC Plate for me. That was Phar Lap's Secretariat moment. THe old bloke described how the horse opened up a widening margin of over 30 lens, smashing every track record from the mile on. He was eased to a walk in the final 2 or 3 furlongs, but still smashed the 18f track record by 12 seconds. Only the crushing weights beat that horse, & many of his records too decades to match."

[@geraldavery1489]

What a racehorse... carted wide ..covered extra ground. Then unleashed great turn of speed...headed still won... I'd rank him the best!!

[@laceygreenwood]

Bravo, Phar Lap. We still love you.

[@MartialArtsofPoi]

lol tears run down my face this has got to have been one of the most greats photage of hime I have ever seen. I wish he still lived too

[@bon1042]

Oh, he was/is a beauty, I love this horse, also relentlessly picking up horses, thank you for video!

[@BalmainBucko]

The AJC plate was his secretariat run I agree, he went through the first 10f in 2.03.50 With another 8f to run...when you consider todays TR for the 16f is 3.19 he was 1.15.5 away from that at the 10f had PL aimed up for the 16f that day and was riding against the clock I believe it wasn't out of reach? Easy said I know, but to think he could have held a TR for 83 years is mind blowing?

[@TT-yr6kt]

Amazing horse. Not only did he overcome adversity to win in Mexico but also many greedy people who overworked him and tried to kill him for their personal gain. Poor horse who despite all that he was still a champion

[@rubiconnz1754]

Ninety years since Phar Lap's untimely passing and we are still fascinated by the great horse. Do You have any Phar Lap stories or information ?

[@coastallad1010]

He was poisoned not long after this race by arsenic. Probably by the American Mafia.

[@oldmanarockin]

thanks for posting this video..i have racehorses in my blood and just love the pharlap story and did'nt even know any of these films existed..he truely was a wonder horse as was seabiscuit.

[@bajesax]

As a generalisation, heart size does impact performance due to impacting the ability to pump oxygen and hence the VO2 Max of the horse (maximum volume of oxygen that by the body can consume during intense, whole-body exercise). The higher the VO2 Max, the better, as a higher continuous supply of oxygen will be supplied to the muscles enabling high performance. A lot matters on the individual, inherently faster or more efficient. I am not a sports specialist but a runner.

[@zbromanarch688]

Amazing footage long live phar lap 😍Greatest horse of all times 😍

[@russe19642]

Ive never seen this race before apart from short clips,he really brained them no wonder those that saw him talk about him so much and no need for a pacemaker like some these so called newer champions,he was the pacemaker

[@RaymondJones-kh6pp]

The best race horse the world has ever seen no horse could beat him at his best and he carried huge weights and still won a real champion no horse in the world would beat him if they had the same weights and he could win at any distance 2 miles was his best a great horse

[@bgardiner3354]

Have you ever heard about his performance in the AJC Plate? If we had footage of that I doubt anyone would contest ur argument

[@philipknight734]

I remember seeing on tv a show and they asked an American racecaller of 50 years, who was the best horse he ever saw, and he said Phar Lap from Australia. Didnt he also beat the world record time?

[@marriedkiwi]

when i was young in the 70s (thats 40 years after Pharlap) the name Pharlap was more famous than any human being in New Zealand

[@Snowfang00andco]

Bless the Jockey that knew to save Phar Lap’s energy for the second half 😊

[@Vik42220]

B, thank you so much for the information about that book. If it's not still in print I am sure I shall be able to find it on the secondary market. If I am remembering correctly, one of the US's great champions, Forego, was a late bloomer and a very big horse and he came into his own later in his life when all the parts came together. I am no chauvinist when it comes to great horses; I can appreciate them wherever they come from, and Phar Lap was one of the greatest. G'day!

[@brendabaloyan]

The Agua Caliente Racetrack in Tijuana Mexico opened in 1929 until it was destroyed by a major fire in 1971, it re-open in 1975 and was closed in 1992! Rigth now this place is known as the Caliente Casino! Many Hollywood stars visited this place during the 1930's until the 1950's.

[@bgardiner2000]

2. record established by the New Zealand gelding Rapine 6 years ago, and a second better than the Australasian recird record put up by Nadeanin the winning the Australian Cup last month. At one stage Phar Lap was over three quarters of a furlong (~150m) in front of Donald, and although Elliott eased him in the straight he ran home 1- lengths ahead of Nightmarch, who was hard put to it to defeat Donald. Phar Lap was not in the least bit distressed when he pulled up, but Donald and Nightmarch...

[@80cathryn]

bless you and thank you

[@ripperdingo]

Phar Lap won races of all distances, won a race at a different distance, including the Melbourne Cup, on each of the 4 race days of the Melbourne Cup that year, carried weight records to victory, won overseas smashing course record time, whereas Black Caviar could have in the Toorak handicap but didn't -- People forget how great other horses are -- Kingston Town won 4 Cox Plates, and won distances from 1,000 metres to nearly 3200 metres when carried 61 kilo and ran 2nd in the Cup.

[@founder1123]

i love this video i was hoping to see one of his races in my life time he was truley one of the greatest ever what a rare oppuntunity to see a video of him though. thanks. :)

[@HrhPrinceAndrewOCrowley]

Great footage of the time!

[@bgardiner2000]

I honestly think that discussions about horses of different era's is possible based on some basic criteria. I think the following demonstrate greatness in terms of a horses progressive career: 1. Dominance of racing of that era; 2. Longevity of career; 3. Race records / track records broken; 4. Ability to win over different distances; 5. Performance under handicap conditions. I think these give a pretty objective guide to who was / is best. Under these criteria Phar Lap would have

[@bgardiner2000]

@711ATOM Thanks for the input Atom. Hats off to your thorough research.

[@80cathryn]

the quintessential measure of things is time and space my friend, time is everything. And the performances that Sec racked up one after another in stunning and different fashion has not been seen before or since. are there notable horses in history? you bet. but there has only been one mind blowing creature that we have been so fortunate to witness that every new revelation on his performances sets him high upon mt olympus

[@Vik42220]

B, I am flattered. Maybe Phar Lap is so well remembered in New Zealand/Australia is that he was such a phenomenon and because of his mysterious death. I knew about MoW from earliest childhood because I went through the "horse crazy" phase, in common with many of my schoolgirl friends. (It has been said that many children go through this phase, but, for some reason, especially girls.) I doubt that many also know of Fair Play, Equipoise, Kelso, Display, Forego, great horses all. Unfortunately, many Americans think that if it isn't/wasn't American, it just didn't exist.

[@bgardiner2000]

Phar Lap is well-remembered because of his unique talents of course, and the circumstances surrounding his death. But there are other factors. He lived and raced at the peak of the great depression. No doubt for the same reasons that Seabiscuit left such an indelible impression on the American consciousness, Phar Lap was a shining light in a dark time, a battler born from the soup kitchen who held the racing world in his hands for a period. The other reason is that horse-racing in Australia is such a big part of the national psyche. Whereas in Europe racehorse ownership is the domain of the elite, most horses in Australia are owned in 5% syndications. It tends to touch far more people (proportionally) than in other racing centres. I know what you mean by the insular notions of US race fans. Europeans are the same when they talk about their great horses. In Australia because we have so little dirt racing we tend to identify more with our European brethren. I just wish the "World Championships" (ahem) didn't clash with the Melbourne Spring Carnival. You need to lobby to have the dates of your series changed ;)

[@Krissilolly]

fantastic horse, and still im crying :( now i have used all my tissues coz i have viewed all the pharlap footage on here. I saw the film when it first came out and broke my heart, my own horse at that time was the spitting image of Pharlap, although he was a jumper not a racehorse.

[@nedpoines8104]

He made two runs: 1. back straight 2. in the straight. Could have gone around twice. Jockey did not have whip - only spurs. "jockey riding hard" - I couldn't see it! He was three classes above them. No wonder Whittingham / Dunne impressed!

[@bgardiner2000]

I think there was some good insight into this ranking from Charlie Whittingham, the Hall of Fame trainer of Sunday Silence, who wrote in his autobiography "I never got to see Man O'War. I was too young. But he'd have to be a helluva horse to be better than Phar Lap. He won the Caliente race running almost all the way around on the outside fence. His rider was convinced the other jocks in the there were out to get them. He figured the best way was not to give them a chance."

[@bgardiner2000]

I like it when they are talking about taking him to the States and Harry won't go and suggests Tommy train him. Dave Davis says"Woodcock? What the hell does he know about training?" and Harry replies "Look you're going to have to take him anyway. The bloody horse won't even fart unless Tommy tells him it's alright."

[@MrSteelcity1218]

Thanks mate.

[@tigerboy1966]

Thanks, I did some research after I posted and of course you are correct. Even in the modern era many horses don't reproduce their form outside their own continent (I lost heavily on Dancing Brave in the Breeders Cup!), so this was something very special.

[@bgardiner2000]

racing industries world-wide. While I agree that many individuals can have some silly arguments, the concept of comparison is not silly at all. I am glad though, that you posted on here. This is what it's all about... sometimes you have to take the good with the bad.

[@MrWalto69]

AMAZING ! to run that fast from a completly different hard surface then australia,deffently one of the most amazing animal ever seen,pity i wasnt alive when he was racing:) R.I.P Phar Lap !

[@kalamia1000]

Yes, for sure. Many more, as well.

[@brettwilkinson9529]

Terrible journey by ship from Australia to USA .Split hoof, couldn't train , so was walked instead , ran wide out so they couldn't box him in , therefore having to cover extra ground, then blew them off the track in record time while being half fit.This is why Pharlap is in the top 3 race horses in history. Man of War, Secretariat and Pharlap in any order you please.

[@BalmainBucko]

Who's the best, but as an Australian, I take great solace and pride in the fact, that two very well respected Americans could hold Phar Lap with such high esteem! Regards!

[@bgardiner2000]

i have no doubt that Phar Lap was both fit 'enough' & sound 'enough' to take his place in the field. He was the favourite & significant betting money had been invested on him. I agree with what you say... you don't have the luxury of scratching a horse you've brought half-way round the world because you are unsure of how they are going. nothing on the training track can reproduce the pressure of racing. Black Caviar is a perfect example of that. Would be interested in this 'other' post...

[@711ATOM]

Part 3-A better known story comes from the Charlie Whittingham, the Hall of Trainer of Sunday Silence, who wrote in his autobiography "I never got to see Man O'War. I was too young. But he'd have to be a helluva horse to be better than Phar Lap. He won the Caliente race running almost all the way around on the outside fence. His rider was convinced the other jocks in the there were out to get them. He figured the best way was not to give them a chance."

[@founder1123]

great video where did you find it these are rare as far as iknow.

[@Spentastic]

Secretariats heart was unweighed but was estimated to be 20lbs to 22lbs or roughly 9 to 10 kgs. His track records in the Kentucky Derby of 1:59.5 and world dirt record in the Belmont Stakes have stood for 35 years now. In fact no horse on dirt has even come within a second of his Belmont Stakes time of 2:24 flat for the 2.5 miles EVER on ANY track. Secretariat is the most impressive flat racing horse I have ever seen. He also sired current Melbourne Cup record time holder Kingston Rule in 1990.

[@rgb188]

The best race horse in history

[@Vik42220]

Fantastic footage of a legendary horse. Has anybody ever heard the term, "Phar Lap's Revenge?"

[@bgardiner2000]

No I haven't... Do tell

[@bgardiner2000]

You're right, although this is a narrator of the footage provided by the race course and not a race caller. The original call was reproduced for the Phar Lap movie.

[@danztastic]

What a beautiful horse n fast..

[@MrWalto69]

Personally i think Phar Lap would wipe the floor with Secretariat , on the belmont stakes i couldn't see Phar Lap beating Secretariat on that day because that was an amazing performance by Secretariat , but come on Phar Lap was wining 2 mile races with 140+lbs and won 4 G1 races in a week including the cup carrying 136lbs and won in mexico never being on dirt with a cracked hoof and set a TR , no horse will ever match him , not sec, not man o war , not frankel not any horse ,

[@wayneo1269]

I agree no horse will ever match him.

[@williamwilliam5691]

The greatest galloper of all time. Looks like he was held back for a bit. When he was let go he flies.

[@dancinghobo6395]

Kiwi legend 🇳🇿

[@80cathryn]

Phar Lap's legacy is safe and he's in the company of the utterly greatest of all horses ever. My opinion if the group were limited to just 5 + one philly it would be in no particular order: Ribot; SeaBirdII; Secretariat; PharLap; ManO War and Ruffian. Each did things no horse has done before or since; were truly champions and did the sport proud. Hopefully this is a tight grouping at the top, because others are good but not worthy of this group.

[@GoddyofWar]

Phar Lap, Makybe Diva and Christian Cullen. All Aussie horses, all legends in the sport.

[@clipperblackhawk4297]

Amazing 🐴..amazing record considering the amount of weight he had to run with..

[@bgardiner2000]

Not to mention that he only had one serious gallop when he arrived in the states. A young boy who went on to be a famous track personality saw him at trackwork and referred to the experience years after when he saw other greats at work. None would compare for sheer speed with Phar Lap. It's interesting when you find that they tried him as a sprinter when a late two, early three-year-old and he was no good.

[@bgardiner2000]

hile I'm at it, PL won 4 G1 races on each day of the Melb spring carnival in '31. The achievements of the horse you mentioned pale into insignificance compared to that. But HE RACED 80 years ago. Modern-day racing is completely different, which is why our measures of success are different. MOW couldn't keep up with a modern-day horse on the gallop to the barriers. In his time & place though he did amazing things. To understand it though you need more than a rudimentary knowledge of the sport.

[@bgardiner2000]

BB as usual a good review. There is a pretty long & tried list of adversity that PL had to overcome just to get to the race, in addition to the tactical decisions that had to be made in the race itself. I'm not sure that I've heard anyone use his time in the Handicap as an argument against his legend, but given that he carried top-weight and broke the track record are pretty good indicators. Some will say that the record was eclipsed by Gallant Sir the next year. Most fail to also ...

[@mcake1234]

Well raced Bobby.

[@lilsebastian2625]

What a brilliant horse.

[@thebrasenose]

Thanks for posting this. How do you rate Phar Lap? Is it possible to make a meaningful assessment of where he stands? I had always assumed he was one of the greats, but I don't really know and one can't really say from the footage. How would you rate him?

[@thebrasenose]

Thanks for this interesting and evocative reply. Speed and stamina, I suppose, in the Secretariat mould. Interestingly, I have read that US and Aussie racing were weaker than UK/Europe in terms of bloodlines up to, say, the 1970s, such that standards were more uneven and huge winning margins were seen when real beasts like, say, Man O'War came along. But it's good to know the Phar Lap legend is founded in hard-headed analysis and that he deserves his place with.the other greats in Elysium!

[@bgardiner2000]

The Agua Caliente Handicap was called the 'hundred grander.' It was the first race of that value anywhere in the world. But you're right, it didn't actually have prize money of $100k the year that Phar Lap won it. It was actually a little over half that amount thanks to the depression. The HGC wasn't run until 1938 when it was won by Seabiscuit. In 1938 it was worth $50k.

[@MrSteelcity1218]

I guess that show us how special Pharlap was any other horse would have been scratch. We will never see a horse like him again!

[@bgardiner2000]

We had a great Secretariat entire raced in ANZ called Kingston Rule - the 1990 Melbourne Cup winner (who still holds the Australian 2 mile record set in that race). He was out of an Australian HOTY called Rose of Kingston. Many people believe that he had a very similar conformation to Sec. Had he not been so well bred he may very well have been gelded. He was so heavy in front that he damaged his cannons & was retired. I'd imagine a similar fate would have met Sec had he raced on past 3.

[@Loaf_Of_Bread8335]

Phar lap was so good, for any of you saying he lost the Melbourne cup it was because he had 66kgs on him! Most Melbourne Cup winners carry 54kgs.

[@bgardiner2000]

@711ATOM The Hunter Cup, which is also run on the same night as the Trotters Interdominion Final and the Victoria Derby is run at the Melton track in Victoria. I am all the way on the other side of the country in Perth ;) About 3000 miles away.